Sanitary storage cabinet

ABSTRACT

A combination sanitary storage cabinet and dispenser for feminine sanitary napkins and other articles of feminine hygiene. The cabinet has a storage container with an interior storage space for a stack of sanitary napkins which are removable one by one through an access opening at one end of the container. This end of the container has an end opening through which a stack of napkins may be inserted into the container and which is normally closed by a removable end closure member toward which the napkin stack is urged by a spring. The end closure member may be a receptacle for additional articles of feminine hygiene, such as a sanitary napkin belt or napkin disposal bags and is accessible through the container access opening for removal of articles from and replacement of articles in the receptacle, as well as removal and replacement of the receptacle. The opposite end of the container may have additional storage space for other feminine hygiene articles, such as tampons.

United States Patent Bolton Jan. 14, 1975 SANITARY STORAGE CABINET Primary Examiner-Roy D. Frazier [76] Inventor: Ronald L. Bolton, 1059 Driftwood, Assistant Exammer wllham Lyddane Coronai Calif. 91720 Attorney, Agent, or Fzrm-Bon1ard I. Brown [22] Filed: May 21, 1973 21 Appl. No.: 362,321 [57] ABSTRACT A combination sanitary storage cabinet and dispenser 52 us. c1 312/71 206/438 211/49 D for feminine Sanitary napkins and other articles of 220/41 22059 22I/98 312/290 feminine hygiene. The cabinet has a storage container [51] Int. Cl. A47f 1/12 with an interior Storage Space for a Stack of Sanitary {58] Field of Search 312/71 290 327 32s napkins which are Tammable One by through 99 access opening at one end Of the container. end 59 Of thfi container has an end OPEIlll'lg thI'OUgh which a 6 3 220/41 stack of napkins may be inserted into the container and which is normally closed by a removable end clo- [56] References Cited sure member toward which the napkinvstack is urged by a spring. The end closure member may be a recep- UNITED STATES PATENTS tacle for additional articles of feminine hygiene, such 551,268 12/1895 Edenholm 221/102 X as a sanitary napkin be or napkin disposal bags and i I gl f h et a] i gig accessible through the container access opening for 22953I3 9/1942 g y "211/49 D removal of articles from and replacement of articles in 2435I04 M948 312/71 X the receptacle, as well as removal and replacement of 2:6l9:398 11/1952 Kenmotsu....................:::::..1. 221/59 the receptacle The Opposite end Ofthe Container may have additional storage space for other feminine hy- FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS giene articles Such as tampons 308,183 2/1969 Sweden 221/279 9 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures R /0 i 3 5$ 30-- I I I 1 w 2 1 l Z5\:\W/{Z{/{ \///////1 c r rrr r V52 1 a I a Q I 2 9- 55 I l t5 l? 36 b Q 1 I i I I r 34 +1 I 46 I I 19 1 1 J I I l I 1 40*k I I I t 4Z-''TI 1 I I l 1 I i I I l \1 l] lll i lll/l 1 PATENTEB JAN 1 4l975 ///////////Y/////// l/l/l/l/lll/l/ SANITARY STORAGE CABINET BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to the field of feminine hygiene and more particularly to a storage cabinet for articles of feminine hygiene, such as sanitary napkins, napkin belts, tampons, and the like.

2. Prior Art The prior art is replete with a vast assortment of storage cabinets for various purposes. Among these cabinets are those which are useful for both storing and dispensing articles, one by one. Examples of such cabinets are found in the following U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,669,421, 1,689,571, 2,619,398, and 3,425,595.

Some prior art cabinets are general purpose cabinets which may be used to store various types of articles. Other cabinets are special purpose cabinets which are designed to receive one or more specific types of articles.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention provides aspecial purpose sanitary cabinet for storing and dispensing feminine sanitary napkins and storing other articles of feminine hygiene, such as a sanitary napkin belt and tampons. The cabinet has a container with an interior storage space for receiving a stack of sanitary napkins arranged side by side in a row extending endwise of the container. One end of the container has an opening through which a napkin stack may be inserted into the storage space. This end opening is normally closed by a closure member which is slidably removable from the container to permit insertion of the napkins. A spring within the container urges the napkin stack toward the closure member to a position where the leading napkin in the stack contacts the member.

Adjacent the open end of the container is an access opening in one container side wall, preferably the top wall, through which the leading napkin is exposed for removal from the container. The end closure member may also be removable and replaceable through this access opening, and the latter may be normally closed by a hinged cover or the like. According to a feature of the invention, the end of the leading napkin which is exposed through the access opening projects beyond the adjacent extremity of the closure member to facilitate removal of the napkin.

According to another feature of the invention, the sanitary cabinet has additional storage space for other articles of feminine hygiene. In the particular cabinet described, for example, the end closure member of the storage container is a receptacle for containing a sanitary napkin belt, napkin disposal bags, or the like. This receptacle is accessible through the container access opening for removal and replacement of the belt. The opposite end of the container has internal partitions forming one or more storage compartments for tampons, belts, or other articles. These compartments are accessible through additional access openings in the storage container closed by hinged covers or the like.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a sanitary cabinet according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged section taken on line 2-2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a section taken on line 3-3 in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a section through a modified sanitary cabinet.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT v The sanitary cabinet 10 shown in FIGS. l-3 has a rectangular box-like housing 12 with an interior storage space 14 for feminine sanitary napkins I6. Napkins 16 are arranged side by side in a row or stack extending endwise of the housing. Storage space 14 opens through the left end of the housing 12 in FIGS. 2 and 3 to permit insertion of the napkins into the housing. The napkins are retained in the housing by an end closure member 18 positioned in the end opening 19 of the housing. The stack of napkins 16 is urged toward the closure member 18 by a pressure plate 20 and spring 22. Pressure plate 20 is flanged about its edges and sized to slide freely back and forth in the housing 12. Spring 22 seats at one end against the plate and at the other end against a portion 24 within the housing and urges the plate to the left against the right end of the napkin stack to retain the leading or left hand napkin 16a in the stack in seating contact with the end closure member 18. The spring is retained in position by retaining seats 25 on the plate and partition.

In the upper side or top wall 26 of the housing 12 is an access opening 28 through which the napkins 16 may be removed one by one. This access opening opens edgewise through the left end of the housing 12 and extends to the right to or just slightly beyond the parting plane between the leading napkin 16a and the next napkin in the napkin stack. As shown best in FIG. 2, the napkins 16 project above the end closure member 18 whose vertical height is substantially less than the vertical height of the storage space 14. Accordingly, the upper edge of the leading napkin 16a is exposed through both the end opening 19 and the access opening 28 for upward removal of this napkin from the housing.

Normally, the housing end opening 19 above the closure member 18 and the access opening 28 are closed by a hinged generally L-shaped cover 30 which may be opened to its broken line position of FIG. 2 to remove the leading napkin 16a. As may be readily observed in FIG. 2, the left edge of the housing top wall 26 overlies the following napkin to prevent its being pulled from the housing with the leading napkin.

End closure member 18 is slidably removable from the housing 12 through its access opening 28 to permit insertion of napkins 16 into the housing through its end opening 19. To this end, the closure member is slidably supported on the housing by tongue and groove means 32. A feature of the invention resides in the fact that the closure member 18 may be a receptacle, as shown, for storing additional articles of feminine hygiene. The particular end closure receptacle shown, for example, has a bottom wall 34 located about midway between the top and bottom of the receptacle side walls 36 to form with the latter a relatively shallow storage space 38 for a sanitary napkin belt or the like. The tongue and groove means 32 by which the receptacle is supported in the housing comprises tongues or ribs 40 on the receptacle fitting slidably in grooves formed between inwardly projecting flanges 42 on the housing side walls 44. It will be observed that the storage receptacle 18 is accessible through both the housing end and access openings 19, 28 for removal of articles in and replacement of articles in the receptacle as well as removal and replacement of the receptacle.

Reference was made earlier to the interior housing partition 24. This partition is located adjacent the end wall 46 of the housing 12 opposite its end opening 19 and defines with the latter wall and an additional partition 48 extending horizontally between the partition 24 and wall 46 a storage space 50 for tampons 52 or other articles of feminine hygiene. This latter space is accessible through an additional access opening 54 which opens through the top wall and adjacent end of the housing 12. Access opening 54 is normally closed by a second, generally L-shaped hinged cover 56 which may be opened to its broken line position of FIG. 2 to remove and place tampons from and in the storage space 50.

The sanitary cabinet may be supported in any convenient way. For example, the cabinet may simply be placed on a supporting table surface or shelf. The illustrated cabinet is also equipped with a fitting 58 for mounting the cabinet on a wall.

The modified sanitary cabinet 10a in FIG. 4 is similar to that of FIGS. 1-3 except that the end closure receptacle 18a of cabinet 10a has a deeper storage space 38a for containing disposal bags 60a for the sanitary napkins 16. Also the opposite end of the housing 12a has an additional lower storage space 62a for containing a sanitary napkin belt or the like. This latter space is accessible through a lower access opening 64a in the end of the housing. Access opening 64a is normally closed by a hinged cover or door 66a.

The inventor claims:

1. A sanitary cabinet for storing and dispensing feminine sanitary napkins comprising:

an elongate storage container having an interior storage space opening through one end of said container for containing a stack of sanitary napkins arranged side by side in a row extending endwise of the container,

an end closure member closing the end opening of said container,

means slidably mounting said closure member on said container for removal of the member from the container by sliding movement of the member in a transverse plane of the container to permit insertion of a napkin stack into said storage space through said end opening,

spring loaded means for yieldably urging a napkin stack in said storage space toward said closure member,

said container having a side wall access opening to the end of said storage space adjacent said closure member through which napkins may be removed one by one from said space, and

said closure member being removable from and replaceable in said container through said access opening.

2. A sanitary storage cabinet according to claim 1 including:

a cover member closingsaid access opening and retaining said closure member in said container.

3. A sanitary cabinet for storing and dispensing feminine sanitary napkins comprising:

an elongatestorage container having an interior storage space opening through one end of said container for containing a stack of sanitary napkins arranged side by side in a row extending endwise of the container, an end closure member closing the end opening of said container, means slidably mounting said closure member on said container for removal of the member from the container by sliding movement of the member in a transverse plane of the container to permit insertion of a napkin stack into said storage space through said end opening, spring loaded means for yieldably urging a napkin stack in said storage space toward said closure member, said container having a side wall access opening to the end of said storage space adjacent said closure member through which napkins may be removed one by one from said space, and said closure member comprising a storage receptacle for other articles of feminine hygiene, such as a sanitary napkin belt. 4. A sanitary storage cabinet according to claim 3 wherein:

said container has a top wall containing said access opening, and said storage receptacle is exposed through said access opening for replacement of articles in and removal of articles from the receptacle through said access opening. 5. A sanitary storage cabinet according to claim 4 wherein:

said storage receptacle is removable from and replaceable in said container through said access opening. 6. A sanitary storage cabinet according to claim 5 wherein:

the upper end of said storage receptacle is below the level of said container top wall, whereby the sanitary napkin adjacent said receptacle is exposed above the receptacle for ease of removal from said container. 7. A sanitary storage cabinet according to claim 6 wherein:

said storage container has parallel side walls at opposite sides of said storage receptacle, and said closure member mounting means comprises interfitting tongue and groove means on said receptacle and container side walls. 8. A sanitary storage cabinet according to claim 7 wherein:

said storage container includes an end wall and interior partition means at the end of the container opposite said end opening providing a storage space for additional articles of feminine hygiene, such as tampons, and an access opening to said latter storage space, and said spring loaded means comprises a movable wall member in said container, and a spring acting between said partition means and wall member for urging said wall member toward said storage receptacle. 9. A sanitary storage cabinet according to claim 8 in- 5 eluding:

cover members closing said access openings. 

1. A sanitary cabinet for storing and dispensing feminine sanitary napkins comprising: an elongate storage container having an interior storage space opening through one end of said container for containing a stack of sanitary napkins arranged side by side in a row extending endwise of the container, an end closure member closing the end opening of said container, means slidably mounting said closure member on said container for removal of the member from the container by sliding movement of the member in a transverse plane of the container to permit insertion of a napkin stack into said storage space through said end opening, spring loaded means for yieldably urging a napkin stack in said storage space toward said closure member, said container having a side wall access opening to the end of said storage space adjacent said closure member through which napkins may be removed one by one from said space, and said closure member being removable from and replaceable in said container through said access opening.
 2. A sanitary storage cabinet according to claim 1 including: a cover member closing said access opening and retaining said closure member in said container.
 3. A sanitary cabinet for storing and dispensing feminine sanitary napkins comprising: an elongate storage container having an interior storage space opening through one end of said container for containing a stack of sanitary napkins arranged side by side in a row extending endwise of the container, an end closure member closing the end opening of said container, means slidably mounting said closure member on said container for removal of the member from the container by sliding movement of the member in a transverse plane of the container to permit insertion of a napkin stack into said storage space through said end opening, spring loaded means for yieldably urging a napkin stack in said storage space toward said closure member, said container having a side wall access opening to the end of said storage space adjacent said closure member through which napkins may be removed one by one from said space, and said closure member comprising a storage receptacle for other articles of feminine hygiene, such as a sanitary napkin belt.
 4. A sanitary storage cabinet according to claim 3 wherein: said container has a top wall containing said access opening, and said storage receptacle is exposed through said access opening for replacement of articles in and removal of articles from the receptacle through said access opening.
 5. A sanitary storage cabinet according to claim 4 wherein: said storage receptacle is removable from and replaceable in said container through said access opening.
 6. A sanitary storage cabinet according to claim 5 wherein: the upper end of said storage receptacle is below the level of said container top wall, whereby the sanitary napkin adjacent said receptacle is exposed above the receptacle for ease of removal from said container.
 7. A sanitary storage cabinet according to claim 6 wherein: said storage container has parallel side walls at opposite sides of said storage receptacle, and said closure member mounting means comprises interfitting tongue and groove means on said receptacle and container side walls.
 8. A sanitary storage cabinet according to claim 7 wherein: said storage container includes an end wall and interior partition means at the end of the container opposite said end opening providing a storage space for additional articles of feminine hygiene, such as tampons, and an access opening to said latter storage space, and said spring loaded means comprises a movable wall member in said container, and a spring acting between said partition means and wall member for urging said wall member toward said storage receptacle.
 9. A sanitary storage cabinet according to claim 8 including: cover members closing said access openings. 